Updated 9:09 a.m., Dec. 26–
By Rylie Friesen– The Citrus Heights Homeless Assistance Resource Team (HART) in partnership with area churches is again launching a temporary winter shelter for Citrus Heights homeless during the cold and wet winter months.
The rotating shelter program is scheduled for Dec. 29 through Feb. 29, and organizers are hopeful to recruit some more volunteers and churches to help host the shelter. As in prior years, the shelter will rotate to a different church each week, where up to 20 homeless guests will be given a hot meal and a warm place to stay overnight.
“[The goal is] to offer resources to folks who are suffering from homelessness throughout the county,” said Irene Hronicek, who chairs HART’s winter sanctuary committee.
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Although having an immediate goal to provide temporary shelter for those without homes in the winter, HART’s ultimate mission is to help the homeless find permanent housing— and the organization says getting the often-roving homeless population in one room has proved to be helpful towards that end. Once on site, those without homes have an opportunity to connect with resources to help with alcohol and drug addiction, as well as contact the Citrus Heights Navigator for help with housing, obtaining identification, getting a bus pass and more.
“All we can do is point them in the direction of the services they need, and then accompany them as they take the steps to fill out the forms, to go visit the landlords, to make the phone calls, and to take the steps to get their ID, ” said Hronicek, noting that many homeless individuals don’t have an ID, which is a barrier to employment and housing. “You can’t get a job, you can’t rent a [home], without an ID.”
The 2019-20 shelter is HART’s fourth year offering the rotating program, with last year’s program providing shelter to a combined total of about 76 homeless throughout the eight weeks it was offered. Guests this year will again check in at Messiah Lutheran Church, at the corner of Antelope Road and Rosswood Drive, and will then be taken by bus to whichever church is hosting the shelter that week.
The Citrus Heights Police Department will be walking the neighborhoods around Messiah Lutheran Church to let residents know the Winter Sanctuary will be starting and to proactively address any concerns immediate neighbors might have. A separate staging area at Rusch Park will also be used this year, to mitigate concerns in the past with loitering near the intake site.
Area churches serving as host sites for the shelter this year are: Advent Lutheran Church, Celtic Cross Presbyterian Church, Antelope Road Christian Fellowship, Fair Oaks Presbyterian Church, Holy Family Catholic Church and the Citrus Heights Stake of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
New this year is the involvement of Dignity Health, which will be visiting once a week to provide check-ups for the homeless.
There will also be a barber available throughout the week as well to provide haircuts. Laundry Love, a local nonprofit, will be helping to contribute more consistent laundry services as well. Organizers are hoping to add more dental care as well, though Hronicek is not sure if exams or just emergency care will be donated.
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Hronicek said the shelter has a strict policy against alcohol and drug use, and guests will be vetted by volunteers at the check-in site. All guests will also be required to sign a 15-point “Rules of Conduct” agreement.
Homeless individuals interested in the shelter program are asked to arrive at Messiah Lutheran Church at 5:15 p.m. to have time to check in before the bus leaves at 6 p.m. Those arriving before 5:30 p.m. are asked to come to the west parking lot of Rusch Park, off Rosswood Drive, for early bird check-in, according to Citrus Heights Police Lt. Michael Wells.
Police also said guests will not be allowed to loiter in the area and those who do not get in due to space constraints will be given a priority intake voucher for the following day to avoid the need for them to arrive early.
HART has extended the shelter for a full nine weeks, through Feb. 29, 2020, which is a week longer than last year. Organizers still have a need for a host church to fill in for the tenth week if possible, which goes from Mar. 1-7.
Hronicek said they are especially thankful for the churches who are hosting two different weeks. “They have been so accommodating and flexible with inviting other churches to co-host, provide a meal and/or help with overnight security.”
Members of churches who may be interested in becoming a host facility either this year or next are asked to contact HART for more information and to see first-hand how the rotating shelter works. Those interested in volunteering for HART or the winter shelter are invited to visit www.citrusheightshart.org, or contact the organization by emailing citrusheightshart@gmail.com. Donations are also accepted online.
*Update: An initial version of this article cited the HART board chair stating that Animal Control services would be boarding animals brought in by guests overnight. The Citrus Heights Police Department has since stated that animals will not be boarded by Animal Control.
